thedesertraven Reviews

Seven Cities of Gold (1955)

This movie has nothing whatsoever to do with the Seven Cities of Gold. The expeditions alleged search is mentioned early in the movie and never given any consideration the ent

[6/10 · 29 December 2022]

A trite melodrama with far too many moralistic and religious themes.

However, sappy old movie lover that I am, I enjoyed it.

It held a lot of potential with the dashing Young Anthony Quinn, Richard Egan and a cute little Indian girl in a very young Rita Moreno that I didn't even recognize.

And this movie was 1955 and Rita Moreno is still around--67 years later in a TV series. Check her out!

This movie held out quite a bit of potential, but bogged down and ended up being more like a two act play: the journey from Mexico City and then troubles with the Indian at their first coastal port of San Diego.

But the ending was poorly conceived and even possibly holding back the movie from major release by 20th century Fox.

There are plenty of long reviews much more descriptive and cheerie than mine, I just wanted to point out some different observations.

New Rose Hotel (1998)

director lost the plot line

[3/10 · 16 November 2021]

About halfway through the movie, and not very good to this point, the director apparently had a an epiphany, and not a good one: he decided to change direction from a drama to an art film, with one scene after another of Willem Dafoe and the girl in bed, in the pool, in the hallway, with scant reference to the plot.

Truly dreadful. With 12 minutes left in the movie, I had to turn it off. I just didn't care anymore. Really, I hadn't cared for quite a while.

Thomasine & Bushrod (1974)

Am I the only person watching this that thinks....

[4/10 · 3 May 2021]

..... that from his first line uttered, the lead character played by Max Julien isn't doing much acting.

Without commenting much on the movie itself, with its limited resources and production values, Max's character and that of the lead actress are, however, attractive and likable enough.

But I just don't see any talent or anything that moves me to get into his character. In fact I'm almost dumbfounded by the lack of aparent talent.

And I'm not that picky- it's just a movie that came up on Cinevault, and I'm just looking for a little entertainment.

Perhaps it's somewhat the result of his being involved in the script and production, wherein the acting direction was left out, but this is not a good movie. A poor Bonnie and Clyde genre flick.

I see here that he got good reviews elsewhere, but I can't give them here.

Creature from the Haunted Sea (1961)

Brings the term 'low budget movie' to a new low

[3/10 · 2 February 2020]

I like Rodger Corman flicks, but this movie was so poorly written, directed and especially acted that it didn't even take its own jokes seriously. Quite campy with potential, it just doesn't even begin to get off the ground. You may however find yourself watching it for 20 minutes in disbelief as it is so mind-numbingly bad that you can't believe that the next line is not going to be decently delivered. I mean really, Plan 9 from Outer Space is downright fun compared to this work of art. Of curious note, Robert Towne plays a character here, and got his start as an actor with Rodger Corman, but this is a long ways off from Chinatown which he wrote and we studied at UCLA Film School as a brilliant and virtually flawless screenplay. Hey, I watched it over the air on Comet TV, full of dubbed ten cent early Japanese sci-fi, so maybe I should consider this was a special treat, all things considered- right?

The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)

Here's the best way to watch a movie!

[6/10 · 22 November 2018]

Good reviews here generally averaging 6 stars out of 10 except for one tortured soul So I'll cheerfully add this review although upon reading you no doubt find it completely unusable With our small joyful entourage we saw this as guests of one of the main cast members, as a pre-release screening, I believe it was at the studio in Century City I was delighted to meet the producer Sandy Howard, one of the main cast members Geoff Lewiswas there, other cast members, the reporters were there and also Gale Sondergaard making a comeback after many years (my mother was delighted!) Great fun, so this is my valuable advice to you--get invited to a preview, you'll feel more important and the movie will be better!

The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)

A decent sequel, especially if you saw the preview with the producer, cast and reporters.

[6/10 · 22 September 2017]

Well reviewed here to date, I would like to give a different slant in the hopes it may give pause to reflect to one or two of you. I enjoyed the movie, however the experience was upgraded since it was with a gang of friends that piled into my semi-antiquated but proportionately generous 1964 Chrysler Imperial to see the movie previewed at the studio. As one of us was the proud ex- of one the the villains in the cast, we looked forward to a free night on the town. Meeting one of the producers, cast members, and an old favorite of my dear Mother-Gale Sondergaard making perhaps somewhat of a comeback after many years-added spice to the event for us humble non-industry types. Realizing this is a silly and non-conforming review, the point is: "If you're getting out, make a night of it!" Happy Hour before at Yamashiro, after hours at a private party, whatever, try not to give up too soon, even if the flick is less than stellar. Just a thought.

The movie, by the way, was indeed a decent sequel, with reasonable production values throughout.

The Night Visitor (1971)

So potent, I remember it well after 43 years

[7/10 · 4 December 2014]

We actually saw this on original release in 1971 in the old downtown Tucson theater. We walked a few blocks home to the delightfully serene ex-mortuary we rented during our college years and were compelled to discuss it for hours. Such was the emotional pull. After seeing Max in a few more intriguing films as this, he became my favorite actor for many years. He really knew how to pick clever roles. Like Jack Nicholson! Or, Michael Caine for a British actor. Along with the compelling interplay between him and old pro Trevor Howard, it makes this movie a must see for fans of the off-beat. His character, as the dark plot evolved, begged the question: "Is he crazy-or genius?" Definitely, an underrated and under-viewed film for many years.